Two Fifty Price War

[Barfridge]

250cc price war heats up

Kawasaki fires back at Honda as the Japanese brands trade blows in an emerging price war, but the winner will be the consumer


When Honda launched its new CBR250R priced at $5490 ($5990 for the ABS model) early in 2011, the $7499 Kawasaki Ninja 250R looked positively overpriced. Not wanting to lose its crown as Australia's highest selling motorcycle, Kawasaki has shown its hand and dropped the price of not only its top-selling Ninja 250R, but a range of other models as it fires a warning shot over its rivals' heads.

The most important price rollback is for the cash cow, the Ninja 250R, which is now a whopping $1500 cheaper, down to $5999 from $7499.

Normally there are no winners in a war, but prices dropping and deals improving, the consumer will be the winner of this particular price war.

Kawasaki Australia released a media statement reading: "Kawasaki is reacting to current market activities with the announcement of these substantial price rollbacks. The price reductions show that Kawasaki is leading the way in making quality motorcycle and ATV products more accessible to the Australian public."

Read between the lines there and Kawasaki is really saying "Honda tried to undercut us, and we've responded. You want a price war, you got it!!"

The press statement continues: "Australia’s highest selling motorcycle, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R is now even more appealing thanks to a substantial $1,500 price rollback effective immediately. The price rollback is applicable to both the Ninja 250R and Ninja 250R Special Edition."

Sales of the Honda CBR250R are not yet available but it will be very interesting to see which of the two entry-level sports bikes comes out on top. It's likely the Ninja will retain the crown by virtue of its proven sales performance, but if the 250cc Honda can gets bums on seats for test rides, the Thai-built bike could begin eating into Kawasaki's market share as we head towards the 2011/2012 summer.

Shit for resale on your bike, good if you're buying new.

But it really goes to show how much margin Kawasaki have been making on the little Ninja, that they can slash it by almost 25% without batting an eyelid.

They would be doing pretty well just out of the exchange rate at the moment. Keep in mind this bike sells for USD $3999 in the States.

It will be interesting to see if Hyosung does anything about this.

[Squawk_Ident]

dam thats huge. Got rid of mine just in time then

[SP1RITED]

250cc price war heats up



Shit for resale on your bike, good if you're buying new.

But it really goes to show how much margin Kawasaki have been making on the little Ninja, that they can slash it by almost 25% without batting an eyelid.

They would be doing pretty well just out of the exchange rate at the moment. Keep in mind this bike sells for USD $3999 in the States.

It will be interesting to see if Hyosung does anything about this.

Hyosung have been running out (2010 models I think) new 250R's for $5999 on road for over a month now, they may have to sharpen their pencils again to keep up.

Glad my Missus traded up her 250 Ninja 6 months ago, we got $5800 for it then.

[Frogger]

kawasaki : thanks for buying our overpriced motorcycle. now we will drop the price so u loose upto half the price on resale.

[g0zer]

During their testing the Americans also found the CBR250R to claim the fuel economy crown, with a 3.4l per 100km average, narrowly bettering the Hyosung but proving far more frugal than the 5.1l per 100km recorded by the Kawasaki.

Honda CBR250R arrives down under | motorbikes

thats a pretty good economy figure for the honda, make as good a commuter as an SR400 cept for teh full plastics.

[Squawk_Ident]

Imagine buying one say a month back. Fuck you would be pissed

[Dark Shadow]

No one would have bought one if they were overpriced - it's the market

But i'd be super pissed if i'd laid out the cash last week on one of these

[Red_is_Best]

wow I thought it was LAMS that was going to knock the price of the Ninja down.

[SOLID]

Honda CBR250R arrives down under | motorbikes

thats a pretty good economy figure for the honda, make as good a commuter as an SR400 cept for teh full plastics.

I'm fairly certain that the USA models all make less power then the variants we receive here and in the UK which have about 7hp more. Im sure the results of fuel consumption would be similar though.

[Cbr1k]

The cost of making a 250 isnt that much different then a a1000cc bike. So why do we pay almost 20k when the USA gets them for almost half that.

[SOLID]

The cost of making a 250 isnt that much different then a a1000cc bike. So why do we pay almost 20k when the USA gets them for almost half that.

I guess Australia isn't as good at sucking corporate dick.

[timmay]

The cost of making a 250 isnt that much different then a a1000cc bike. So why do we pay almost 20k when the USA gets them for almost half that.

Same reason a brand new VTR250 is almost double that of a brand new CBR250?

[SP1RITED]

The cost of making a 250 isnt that much different then a a1000cc bike. So why do we pay almost 20k when the USA gets them for almost half that.

R & D (some for racing) and advertising???

[Spock]

Honda CBR250R arrives down under | motorbikes

thats a pretty good economy figure for the honda, make as good a commuter as an SR400 cept for teh full plastics.

Never mind the economy, the Honda's sure got a stonking midrange. The Kawasaki only has the edge above 9000rpm.

[out_in_front]

The price is determined by supply and demand charts - and that varies from region to region, basically they price them based on how much we can afford to pay - not on how much the item costs to make.

Also they are protected by a free trade agreement - so we cant by a bike over in the states and import them ourselves - although that changes if you are in the dirtbike market.

The good thing is that kawasaki has some competition now and their prices will drop to stay compeditive, IMO they are producing a slightly better product (significantly more power - most of the rest is about the same) so they could still charge a bit more than honda - not by much though.

[Cam]

A pixie just got its wings somewhere.

[Spock]

IMO they are producing a slightly better product (significantly more power - most of the rest is about the same) so they could still charge a bit more than honda - not by much though.

Firstly the Kawaski is basically a 1986 motorcycle with a new set of clothes. The Honda is all new and has an ABS option. Secondly, the Honda produces significantly more torque - which is what you feel when you twist the throttle.

Until 9000rpm the Honda has a clear power and torque advantage over the Kawasaki.... with the CBR250R most eager to jump off the line and combined with its single-cylinder torque advantage, made the Honda the most responsive mount around town.

The Kawasaki had the least torque of all the bikes though with 17.3N-m at 9500rpm, compared with 18.7N-m at 6750rpm for the Hyosung while the Honda topped the torque charts with 20.3N-m at 6750rpm.

During their testing the Americans also found the CBR250R to claim the fuel economy crown, with a 3.4l per 100km average, narrowly bettering the Hyosung but proving far more frugal than the 5.1l per 100km recorded by the Kawasaki.

Seems to me the Honda is the better product.

[I Fancy Holidays]

Why would you want a 250 "sports" bike when you could have a motard that is better in every way!

[Cam]

Seems to me the Honda is the better product.

He's mad with Honda-lust boys, tread carefully.

[SOLID]

I will buy you a cbr250r Spock all you have to do is hand over that cruddy old NC30 and she is yours